Full fashioned textile knitting machine



p 1940- s. R. mums EI'AL I 2,195,578

ILL FASHIONED TEXTILE KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nev. 27, 1934 14 Sheath-Sheet 1 I EINVENIORS 7 s Era/20rd Jiawig ATTORNEY.

April 2, 1940.

G. R. MEINIG El AL FULL FASHIONED TEXTILE Kant-me cams Filed Nov. 27, 1934 14 Shoots-Sheet 2 April 2-; 1940. G. R. MEINIG EI'AL 2,195,678

FULL FASHIONED TEXTILE KNITTING IACHINE F11! Nov. 27; 1934 Sheets-Shoot 3 /1 I I I i G34 8! I /J ATTORNEY.

pril 2. 1940. G. R. MEINIG El Al; 2,195,578

FULL FAS'HID NBD TEXTILE KNITTING MACHINE Filnd Nov. 27. 1934 14 Shasta-Shoot 4 ATTORNEY.

April 2, 1940. s. R. MEINIG ET AL 2,195,578

FULL FASHIONED TEXTILE KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 27, 1934 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 y INVENTORS G60 ATTORNEY.

April 2, 1940.

G. R. MElNlG El AL FULL FASHIONED TEXTILE KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 27, 1934 14 Sheets-Shut 6 ATTORNEY.

April 9 G.R.ME1NIG El AL I 2,195,573

FULL FASHIONED TEXTILE KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 27. 1934 14,8heets-Sheet 7 INVENTORS 6509a pzfiard M17219 I BY fi Af gasfi Raw/z WWM ATTORNEY.

April 2, 1940. G. R. MElNlG in AL 2,195,578

FULL FASHIONED TEXTILE KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 27, 1934 14 Sheets-Sheet 8 I INVENTORJ' 62059: 5652a 1 1??? i @515; pazi/z' BY ATTORNEY.

April 2; 1940. s. R. MEINIG :1- AL 2,195,578

7 FULL FASHIONED TEXTILE KNITTING IACHINE Filed Nov. 27, 1934 '14 sauna-shut 9 WU v .92 .91 I I 8/ 'fl nn f9 19 EVENTORS Gevzge 2 90542222 7 7. 025?- flflgymsz fiba/z' ATTORNEY.

April 2, 1940. s. R. MEINIG El AL 2,195-573 FULL FASHIONED TEXTILE KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 27, '1934 14 Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTORS 629%? ZC/Fard/Vlfi ATTORNEY.

April 1940- a; R. MEINIG El AL 5,

FULL FASHIbNEb TEXTILE KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 27, 1934 14 Sheets-Sheet 11 737 BYWWZ.

ATTORNEY.

April 2-, 1940. s. R; MEINIG ET AL 2,195,578

1 NIT me MACHINE I 14 Sheets-Sheet 12 J Zq' 2'5 [N @L x Ag {@QQQ a w a P 1 BY v 1 WWHM I v ATTORNEY.

April 2,' 1940. s. R. MEINIG er AL 5 FULL FASHIONED TEXTILE KNITTING IACHINE Filed Nov. 27, 193 Y usmm-simt 1s m- E I ATTORNEY! April 1940- I a. R. MEINIG tr AL 2,195,573

FULL FASHIONED TEXTILE KNITTING IAGHINE.

Filed Nov. 27, 1934 14 sumssm 14 973 31.. II T ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 2, 1940 UNITED STATES 2,195,578 PATENT OFFICE FULL FASHIONfiXgEXTII-E KNITTING HINE George Richard Meinig and August C. Pauli, Reading, Pa., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Karl Lieberknecht, Inc., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 27, 1934, Serial No. 754,983

9 Claims.

copending application, Serial Number 668,966 I filed May 2, 1933, in the names of August C. Pauli and Otto C. Hamel, contemplates means devised to produce the knitted fabric in accordance with the method disclosed in copending application, Serial Number 662,501 filed March 24, 1933 in the name of Ernst Richard Meinig, and pertains to knitting machines of the character mentioned V wherein are provided means for selectively laying one of several threads in predetermined order upon the needles to form throughout the length of the stocking successive courses of separate and individual threads, thereby overcoming the dis- 2 advantages caused by the inherent characteristics of real silk yarn, such as unevenness in the thickness of the thread, by eliminating the formation of rings or shadows in accordance with the recently developed method disclosed in the United States Patent No. 1,969,307, the product of which has become known in the trade as "ringless stockings.

In carrying out the method aforesaid into practice, considerable difficulties have been experienced in the adequate selection and control of the carrier rods so that the movement thereof could be had in proper predetermined sequence to produce the desired results. Means for selecting and controlling the carrier rods have been devised but, because of their complicated structure and involved assembly, they have proven unsatisfactory, if not wholly impracticable.

It is therefore one of the principal objects of this invention to provide a simplified device for accurately selecting and controlling the proper carrier rod to move the same in time with the operation of the knitting machine in order that each of ,a plurality of threads utilized in the making of ringless fabric by the Multi-Carrier Method may be drawn into desired sequence by its respective carrier over the knitting section of the machine for the formation of the course, said device being so constructed that it may be readily assembled and mounted on the ordinary knitting 50 machine 7 without necessitating any material changes therein.

It has been found necessary, when selecting the selecting device and, further, interfering with the proper laying of the yarn in relation to the needles.

Accordingly, another important object of the invention resides in the provision of means mounted on the knitting machine in addition to the carrier rod selecting and controlling device and capable of automatically locking the carrier rods when at rest and releasing the same when a combination and association of elements cooperating to form series of complete courses and partialcourses having interlooping engagement, whereby to produce a finished ringless fabric wherein partial courses are knitted into the fabric for reinforcing the same. 2

The present invention also includes among its characteristic features the provision of a mechanism cooperating with the carrier rod selecting device and locking-releasing means, and operable to cause the travel for certain carrier rods over a predetermined number of needles or a partial course distance, thus bringing a portion of the thread utilized for the formation of one course .into the following course or courses made from separate threads, whereby said thread portion from one course may interloop a series of loops -in the following course or courses to constitute a strip of reinforced wales in those sections of the fabric normally in need of reinforcement, such as the selvedge edges and the heel tabs.

Besides the foregoing objects, our invention aims to provide a novel construction and association of elements capable of being applied readily and practically to the type of textile machines now commonly in use, and, coacting to obtain a silk stocking wherein rings or shadows are eliminated in accordance with the Multi-Carrier Method of knitting, and cofunctioning to produce in such stockings unique reinforced portions constituted by interlocking the threads employed for the formation of the successive courses and, consequently, without necessitating the introduction of an additional reinrocing thread into the fabric, resulting in a stronger stocking of better appearance.

Other important objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In order that the invention and its method of operation may be readily understood by those persons'skilled in the art, we have in the accompanying drawings and in the detailed description based thereupon, set out several possible embodiments of the same. In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view or a full fashioned knitting machine, showing our inven tion applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a vertical section through a portion of the machine.

Figure 3 is a similar view of another section of the machine showing details which, for clarity, have not been represented in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the mechanism shown in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a rear elevation of the mechanism shown in Figure 3.

Figure 6 is an enlarged plan of a detail of the controlling device.

Figure '7 is a front elevation of the same.

Figure 7-11 is a view similar to Figure '7 but with certain parts removed and other parts broken away.

Figure 8 is a side elevation taken at right angles to Figure '7.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary detail in section taken on line of Figure 53.

Figure 10 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Figure 9.

Figure 11 is an enlarged detail of the parts or the carrier rod selecting means with portions broken away.

Figure 12 is a plan thereof.

Figures 13, 1a, and 15 are details of each carrier rod having its respective dog attached thereto and showing the difference in the size oi. each dog.

Figure 3.6 is a detailed view from the top illustrating the carrying rods and the locking-releasing mechanism in operation.

figure 17 is a section on line li -l? of. Figure it.

Figure 18 is a section on line liili3 of Flgure l6.

Figure- 19 is a section on line l9--i@ of Figwe 16.

Figure 20 is a section through the textile rnachine illustrating a modification of the embodimerits shown in Figure 3.

Figure 21 is a collective showing in elevation of certain parts shown in Figure 20,il1ustrating the various positions of such parts during operation or" the machine.

Figure 22 is an enlarged detail of. the upper portion of the arrangement shown in Figure 20.

Figure 28 is a face elevation of the working parts or" the arrangement shown in Figure 26.

Figure as is a detailedshowing oi the parts represented in Figure 21 and assembled for operation.

Figure 25 is a greatly enlarged diagrammatic illustration of the formation of the loops in the knitted fabric.

igure 26 is a diagrammatic representation of the leg of a full fashioned stocking in flat state made on a machine constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 27 diagrammatically shows the three carriers in operation.

Figure 28 illustrates a further modification represented in Figures 3 and 5.

Figure 29 is an enlarged face elevation of the same, with certain parts taken away.

Figure 30 is a partial top plan View of the reciprocating means utilized for displacing the locking device.

Referring more particularly to Figures 25 and 26 of the drawings, we have shown a knitted stocking blank A having a plurality of sections throughout its area, as more clearly illustrated gra ers in Figure 25, where three sections have been shown and designated by the reference characters Si, S2 and S3. u

Each knitted section consists of a course B, a course C, and a course D, the course 33 being formed by a separate independent thread B, the course C being formed by an independent thread 0', and the course D being formed by an independent thread D'. For clarity, the thread B is shown in black and white, the thread C in solid white, and the thread D in solid black. It will be noted that the thread B forming the course B in section Si forms the course B in section S2; the right selvedge stitch forming the connection. The thread B is also used to knit the course B of section S3, the left selvedge stitch making the connection, and this knitting of the first course is continued throughout the entire area of the blank. The thread C forming course C of section Si also forms the courses C of sections S2 and St; the thread D of course D of section Si is also used to form courses D of sections S2 and S3. Thus it will be appreciated that each individual thread systematically forms the identical course in each section through the entire area of the stocking blank.

According to the invention, the fabric A is to be reinforced at certain portions thereof, such as the selvedge edges E and F and heel tabs H. For this purpose, partial courses and complete courses are combined, the loops of the partial courses having interlooping and overlapping engagement with the loops of the complete courses, as will more clearly appear from Figure 25. This is accomplished by carrying the thread utilized for the formation of a complete course over the following complete course or courses, whereby a series of auxiliary loops G are formed simultaneously with the knitting of said following course or courses to overlap several adjacent loops of the regular courses, as indicated at K, thus constituting a strip of reinforced wales R at the selvedge edges-E and F while the intermediate portion of the blank A is knitted with series or plain loop wales P.

The fabric constructed as above defined is obtained by means of a combination of specially devised mechanisms cooperating to produce the desired results in a manner which will be apparent as the following detailed description progresses.

With reference to the drawings wherein like characters of reference will designate corresponding parts throughout and illustrating the mechanisms for producing the type of fabric above defined, it will be noted that we have shown only those parts of a full fashioned hosiery knitting machine which are essential to the proper comprehension of the present invention, the knitting machine itself being of the usual standard construction well known in the art; also, whereas the drawings-show portions at one end of the usual knitting machine, it is to be understood that similar duplicate parts are provided.

jack bed (4 and acted upon by the slur cock l5, the latter being slidably mounted on the cock box bar l6 and moved thereon through the connecting bar H which is, in turn, reciprocated by action of the usual Coulier motion of the machine. The thread or yarn is fed to the knitting section of the machine by the carriers l8 depending from the carrier rods l9 mounted for reciprocation in the carrier rod bracket 28.

The relative position, function, and operation of these elements of the knitting section I, as

above defined, are well understood by those skilled in the art and, consequently, a more detailed description thereof is dispensed with herein inasmuch as ,the knitting operation is not changed in the machine by the application of this invention thereto.

In the aforesaid method of knitting stockings of the ringless type, it has been found preferable to use three carriers (or more), each having a separate thread, and each being adapted to be successively moved in repeated sequence over the knitting section of the machine to lay its respective thread for the formation of one of every three (or more) courses. The present invention does not vary from this generally preferred conception and, consequently, there have been shown in the drawings three carriers respectively designated by the reference characters 18a, I81), and I80, each connected to a distinct carrier red as shown at Ma, Nb, and I90.

As stated, the invention resides in the combination and association of mechanisms cooperating to produce a particular type of full fashioned stocking fabric and may be stated to include: 1. The carrier rod selecting mechanism; 2. The carrier rod locking and releasing mechanism; and 3. The carrier lock displacing mechanism. For clarity and convenience, each cooperating mechanism, as above identified, will be described in the order stated.

Carrier rod selecting mechanism According to the present invention, as more clearly shown in Figure 2, a cam 2| is rigidly fixed to the cam shaft 5 to revolve therewith and acts upon a roller 22 suspended adjacent said cam 2| by means of a pendulous lever 23 having one end formed with a bearing 24 engaged upon the rock shaft 8 of the machine and the other end provided with a hook-like extension 25 for engagement with a coil spring 25 suitably connected, for instance, by means of a bracket 21 to the front beam 2 of the machine frame I, said spring 28 acting to normally maintain the roller 22 in close contact with the. peripheral surface of the cam 2|.

Adjustably connected to the lever 23 through a I collar 28 is a bent rod 29 extending to the rear of the machine and having its free end 38 projected beyond the back beam 3 of the frame I.

Supported upon said back beam 3 by means of brackets 3| and bearings 32 is a horizontally disposed stub shaft 33 having keyed to a portion thereof a ratchet wheel 34 engageable with a ratchet pawl 35 carried by a plate 38 loosely mounted upon the stub shaft 33 and arranged concentrically with respect to the ratchet wheel 34. The loose plate 35 is maintained in position upon the stub shaft 33 by means of a collar 31 rigid with said shaft. The loose plate 38, further, is provided with a depending projection 38 which affords means for connection through a suitable coupling 39 to the extending extremity 38 of the cam operated rod 29.

For the purpose of normally holding the stub shaft 33 with its ratchet 34 against accidental rotation, there is fixed to said shaft a toothed.

of said disc 40 from a rod 42 engaged-at one of its extremities with a coupling 43 pivoted to a supporting bracket 44 fixed to the back beam 3 of the machine frame I. The remaining extremity of the catch supporting rod 42 engages one end of a coil'spring 45 which, in turn, has its opposite end in engagement with a rod 48 extending from the back beam 3 in parallel relation to said catch supporting rod 42. In this -manner, the spring 45 urges the catch 4| into locking engagement with the toothed disc 40 and, since said disc is rigid with the stub shaft 33, the latter will be prevented from free rotation in its bearings 32.

Disposed in a plane substantially paralleling that of the stub shaft 33 and rotatably mounted in bearing 41 upon the rear of the machine frame I at a point above the back beam 3 thereof, is another shaft 48 connected through a sprocket and chain drive 49 to the stub shaft 33 so that the movement of the latter is transmitted to said shaft 48. A cam 58 is keyed, or otherwise secured, to the shaft 48 to revolve therewith and coacts with a roller 5| to oscillate a lever 52 carrying said roller 5| at its intermediate portion,

at its upper extremity with a crank 56 engaging a frame work 51 rockingly supported in standards 58 horizontally above the knitting section I of the machine and particularly over the carrier rods l9 thereof.

Mounted for longitudinal reciprocating movement on frame work 51 and adapted for transversal sliding movement thereon is a. selecting arm 59 engaging a friction box slide 88 through a pivoted fork connecting link 8|. The free end of the arm 59 is provided with a catch 82 adapted for selective introduction within the recess 63 of any one of a plurality of catch plates, such as designated by reference characters 64, 65.and 86 respectively secured to the carrier rods I911, I91), and I90.

In order to facilitate the proper engagement of the arm 59 with the catch plate of the selected carrier rod, it will appear from Figures 2 and 11, and more particularly so from a comparison between Figures .13, 14, and 15, that the catch plates 64, 85, and are relatively of different sizes, so as to lay in stepped formation, thus allowing the unobstructed rocking movement of the arm 59 for the purpose of selecting the desired carrier rod in the manner to be hereinafter more specifically described.

From the association of the elements of the mechanism so far described, it will be understood that with the operation of the knitting machine, the cam 2| fixed to the cam shaft 5 will revolve with the latter and, because of its constant yieldable and frictional engagement with the roller 22, will cause the pendulous lever 23 to swing back and forth and, accordingly, impart a reciprocating motion to the bent rod 29. This motion of the rod 29 oscillates the loose plate 35 about the stub shaft 33 carriedin bearing 32 at the rear of the machine frame I and thus brings the ratchet pawl 35 into operation for advancing step by step 75.

to ratchet wheel 3 3 to impart a partial rotation to the stub shaft 33. The toothed disc tit being adapted to revolve with the stub shaft 23, it will be understood, forces the yieldably mounted catch ll to ride on its peripherial surface and fall into successive notches of said toothed disc and, therefore, lock the shaft 33 after each partial rotation thereof. For this purpose, of course, the distance between the notches of the toothed disc 40 is predetermined for timed action with the operation of the ratchet mechanism.

Because of the sprocket and chain drive 69 between the shaft 33 and the shaft 38, the motion of the former is transmitted to the latter thereby actuating the cam 58 thereof, acting through roller 5i to pivot the arm 52. The pivotal movement of saidj arm 52 alternatively pulls and pushes the rod 55 connected thereto which, due to the crank connection 55 rocks the frame work 57 carrying therewiththe carrier rod selecting arm 59. I

The camming surface of the cam 58 is designed to present three different points of contact, as represented in Figure 2 by line a-a, line b-b and line cc, whereby through the intermediate connection referred to, the catch 52 of the arm 69 is succeedingly brought to lay in three distinct horizontal planes, to engage the respective catch plates 56, 55, and 56 of the carrier rod to be selected in the manner illustrated in full and dotted lines in Figure 11 of the drawings.

At this point, it is to be noted that the ratchet arrangement 3 l-35 and its actuating means including the cam 2i and the main cam shaft 5 are so adjusted that the arc of rotation at each movement of shaft 68 will successively bring the cam spot a, b, or c in contact with roller 5i before cam 50 reaches its resting position. Due to this adjustment the engagement between the selecting arm 59 and the carrier rod to be selected is positively assured. Upon engagement of the selecting arm 59 with the selected carrier rod, the friction slide 60 connected to said arm longitudinally displaces the same on frame work 57 causing the engaged carrier rod to travel over the machine.

Carrier rod locking and releasing mechanism Afiixed to the shaft 58 by means of a coupling 61 is a shaft extension 68 supported in bearing 59 upon the frame i. The extended portion of the shaft 68 is provided with a bevel gear l0 disposed to engage a key 70a for slidable movement on said shaft and to mesh with a companion bevel gear 7!. Thegear H is coupled through a universal drive shaft 73 to the carrier rod locking means embodied in this invention. Said shaft l3 may be mounted in any suitable manner. For instance, as shown in Figure 31, the shaft is rotatably mounted in a bearing 72 connected to a bracket 72a attached to a sleeve Ha slidable on the narrowing shaft N of the knitting machine. The sleeve E30. is provided with an arm 73?) connected to the narrowing nut so that said sleeve, together with bearing 72 will be displaced with movement of said nut. The gear i0 is held in constant mesh with gear H by a fork 72b rigid with bearing E2. The locking means designated in its entirety by' the reference character M, through its connection with shaft 38 carrying the cam 50 controlling the action of the carrier rod selector, works jointly with the latter to release the carrier rod to be selected in the manner to be presently described.

The locking means it is mounted upon the spindle nut '35 having threaded engagement with of the dogs 85 to lock the carrier rods.

greases the carrier rack spindle i6 associated with manually operable means ill and carries the adjustable stop 18 mounted in the controlling members 79 which constitute parts of the usual full fashioned knitting machine.

Referring more specifically to the locking means i l, the details of which will more clearly appear from a consideration of Figures 6 to 10 and Figures 16 to 19, said means comprises a casing 80 arranged upon the rack spindle nut l5 to move therewith through actuation of the manually operable means ll thereof. The casing 88 has a clear passage,as indicated at 8 i disposed in alignment with the carrier rods l9a, i922, and E90 to allow a free movement of the latter in and out of the casing.

Received freely Within the casing 80 is a set of substantially vertically arranged locking plungers 8i corresponding in number to the number of carrier rods used in the manufacture of ringless fabric and having at their upper end portion a laterally extended pin 82 engaging a coil spring 83 in turn connected to a suitable point upon the casing 80 as indicated at 84, said spring 83 normally urging the plungers 8i inwardly of the casing 80 to project within the passage 8! thereof and in the path of travel of the carrier rods 39a, 119b, and H90. These carrier rods are provided with adjustable dogs 85 having a forward inclined surface 85 adapted, when coming in contact with the projected endof the plungers 85 to raise the same against the normal action of springs 83, said plungers 8i subsequently falling into recesses 81 The fall of the locking plungers M is limited by means of a pin 88 extending from one side of said plungers and adapted to come in contact with a bar 89 supported horizontally upon the casing 80.

As hereinbefore stated, the unlocking of the carrier rods is to be obtained automatically through operating of the machine for the timely release of the carrier rod to be engaged by the selecting device previously defined. For this purpose, there is rotatably mounted transversely of the casing 80 a stub shaft 90 connected to the universal shaft '33 and thus receiving its rotation from the shaft 58 through bevel gearing ill-H and said universal shaft.

Aflixed to the stub shaft 90 is a set of eccentric cams 9!, one for each locking plunger 8i, said cams having a trip 93 disposed to engage successively with continued rotation of the shaft 9!] a projection or shoulder 92 rigid with the plungers 8! so that the latter are lifted in predetermined sequence to release the desired carrier rod. The successive action of the eccentric cams ill on each plunger M is clearly shown in Figures 17, 18, and

19 from which it will appear that said cams are so interrelated that their trip 9! lie in relatively different radial planes. This relative positioning of the locking plunger releasing cams 9! is such that their action will correspond to and be timed with the actuation of the carrier rod selecting and moving mechanism. The eccentricity of each cam 98 is accurately determined so that it may hold the associated plunger 8| in its elevated position when the corresponding carrier rod is at the opposite end of the machine, as shown in Figure 18, but in order to assure positive action, we allow said plunger to fall prior to the return of said carrier rod which, due to the inclined surface 86 of its dog 85 will raise and guide the plunger in the manner represented in Figure 17 until the continued movement of the rod brings the recess Bi of said dog 85 in alignment with the plunger,

whereupon the same is returned to -its locking position, as illustrated in Figure 19.

During certain operations of the knitting machine, it may become desirable to render the carrier rod locking means inactive. Accordingly, there is provided on the casing 80 a pivotal handle 93 and a pivotal link 94, said handle and link being relatively spaced and interconnected by an intermediate bar 95 displaceable by actuation of said handle 93 to an upper and lower position, as illustrated in full and dotted lines in Figure 8 of the drawings. It will be understood that when in the upper position (dotted lines) the bar 95 engaging the underside of the pins 88 simultaneously raises all the locking plungers 8|, consequently rendering the same inactive with respect to all of the carrier rods, but when in the lower position (full lines) the bar 95 frees the plungers 8| allowing them to function in the manner herein set forth.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the locking means 14 being directly controlled from the shaft 68 forming an extension of the shaft 48 which controls the carrier bar selecting means, is actuated in time with the latter, that is, when the shaft 48 brings the cam 50 to a determined position for predisposing the selecting arm 59 to engage the desired carrier rod, this identical shaft 40v through the connections stated, causes the proper lock-releasing cam 9| to raise the par"- ticular locking plunger 8| of the same desired carrier rod, this timed operation being accomplished by preadjusting the cams 9| with respect to the cam 50 and corelating their respective camming action for the purpose intended.

Carrier rod lock displacing mechanism In accordance with the present invention, the locking device, that is, the casing 80 and the parts associated therewith, is mounted for automatic slidable displacement back and forth over the machine in the general direction of movement of carrier rods for a number of needles.

In order to obtain this desired result, the casing 80 of the locking device may be supported upon a the narrowing spindle nut 15 in slides 96 so that said device, as a whole, may be slidably displaced in relation to the spindle nut. To that side of the casing 80 facing inwardly of the knitting machine is attached by means of a connecting bushing or block 91 a pivoting link 98 which, in turn, is pivotally retained within a slot 99 of a rocking crank I00 disposed at right angles to said link 98 and supported onto the side of the spindle nut I5 by bearings I0l. One

end portion of the crank I00 is extended, as shown at I02 for rigid connection with an inverted L shaped lever I03 positioned at substantially right angles to the body of said crank and normally extending therefrom in a direction diametrically opposed to that of the link 98.

Pivotally connected by means of a pin I04 to the depending branch I05 of the inverted L shaped lever I03 is a substantially square block I06 having twoof its diametrically opposed edges grooved as at I01 for slidable engagement 'within a substantially rectangular frame work I08 carried by the upper end of a slidably inclined rod I09 supported for reciprocation in a guiding bracket H0 secured to an appropriate part of the machine frame, as indicated at III.

The rod I09 isadapted to be automatically reciprocated through the normal operation of the knitting machine. For this purpose, as will appear upon referring to Figures 3 and 5, a cam Rotatably mounted at a point intermediate the length of said lever H3 is a roller 6 urged in positive contact with the peripherial surface of the cam II2 by action of the spring II4. A rod II1 articulated to the lever I I3 extends in a substantially horizontal position and projects rearwardly of the machine frame I to engage a finger II8 rigid with a plate II9 loosely received on a stub shaft I supported in bearings I2I bolted to the back beam 3 of the frame I. The plate II 9 further carries a ratchet pawl I22 cooperating with a ratchet wheel I23 keyed or otherwise rigidly secured to said stub shaft I20.

Also afiixed to the stub shaft I20 is a cam I 24 disposed to act upon a roller I25 carried by a lever I26 rocking in a support I21 extending from the back beam 3 of the frame I. One end portion of the lever I26 is projected inwardly of the machine to meet the free extremity of rod I09 in order that a pivotal connection therebetween may be had, as is indicated by the reference character I28.

A coil spring I29 connected to a convenient part of the machine frame such as to the underside of the center bed 4, engages the inner end of the lever I26 and thus acts to maintain the roller I25 in constant contact with the peripherial surface of the cam I24.

In order to hold the stub shaft I20 against free rotation, a toothed disc I30 is rigidly secured upon said shaft and adapted for cooperative engagement with the catch I3I carried by an articulated rod I32 having its free end I33 connected to a spring I34, in turn connected to the outer extremity of the roller carrying lever I26.

From the description of the mechanism just defined, it will be understood that the revolution of the cam II2 by its action on the roller II6 causes the pendulously suspended lever 3 to swing back and forth, thus alternately pushing and pulling the rod II I to actuate the ratchet arrangement I 22l 23 imparting a stepped rotation to the stub shaft I20.

The cam I24 displaced by rotation of said shaft I20 and in contact with the roller I25 sets the articulated lever I26 in rocking motion, thus full line to the position shown in dotted lines v in Figure 9. This motion of the L shaped lever I 03 rocks the crank I00 which, by means of the pivoted link 98 exerts a pull on the locking device 14 sliding the same upon the spindle nut 15, and

' therefore displacing the carrier rods held by said locking device for a distance over the narrowing nut 15 of the machine. The locking device may travel for a variable distance of two or more needles, depending upon the adjustment of the actuating mechanism.

It is to be noted that the sliding motion of the locking device I4 is limited to a two or more needle movement by means of .an adjustable stop I35 connected to the casing 80 of the locking device, coming to rest against an abutment I36 extending from a portion of the spindle nut 15 into the path of travel of said stop.

A modification oi the mechanism for displacing the locking device it and the carrier rods held thereby is shown in Figures to 24 inelusive. In this modification, a cam till is mounted on the main cam shaft 5 of the knitting machine and acts upon a roller 1138 to impart a vertical swinging movement to a horizontally supported lever ltd having one end pivoted to the front portion of the machine frame i and its other end extended beyond the back portion of said frame and connected to a coil spring t lt secured to the rear beam 3. The roller 133 is preferably adjustable transversely of lever by means of thumb bolts Ml regulating the position of said roller in a slot M2 cut in said lever Carried by said lever [139 is an arm i 13 preferably disposed to have one extremity in bearing contact with the cam shaft as indicated at Mi l in the drawing, whereby to restrict the downward motion of said arm. A ratchet pawl M5 is arranged upon the free extremity of the arm M33 and positioned to actuate the ratchet wheel. [Hit rotatably mounted upon the vertical section of a generally T-shaped member it? suitably afidxed to the machine.

Mounted immediately adjacent one face of the ratchet wheel in the manner more clearly shown in Figure 24 is a pair of undulated wheels M8 adapted to rotate with the ratchet wheel Mt.

Freely mounted upon the opposed ends of the horizontal section oi the T-shaped member Ml at substantially right angles thereto is a pair of levers l 19 mounted for adjustment in transversal slides ldil by means of thumb bolts lhl. The lower end tilt? of each lever its is bent and rounded for cooperative engagement with the peripherial surface of the undulated disc t lt. In this connection, it is to be noted that one lever hill is associated with one undulated disc tions of the levers t lt? and constantly urges the same against the undulated disc Mt.

Also freely supported upon the opposed ends of the horizontal section of the T-shaped member t ll at a point inwardly of the connection of the latter with the levers M9 and transversely adjustab e thereon in slots its by means of bolts iii/G is a pair of upwardly directed arms i555 having tab-like extensions E56 laterally projecting from their outer edges to efiect means or" con nection with the upper end portion of the levers said arms lbii being provided with sets of teeth ldl extending laterally from their inner opposed edges. A coil spring interconnecting the upper free extremities of the arms i555 acts to normally draw the latter towards one another.

Made rigid with the carrier rack spindle it by means of lockingbolts the, or the like, is a disc tilt" carrying a series of pins ibl uniformly distributed about the circumferential face of the disc to project therefrom in the path of teeth l5?! of the arm l5? aforesaid.

In operation of the modification as described, it will be understood that the pivotal movement of lever 839 through action or cam itl will displace the ratchet pawl carrying arm 4 33 thus causing a ratchet wheel M6 to advance for rotating the undulated discs Hi8.

With rotation of these discs M8, the levers M9 and, through them, the arms 555 are alternately moved to and from the pin carrying disc ltd rigid with the spindle lit. Therefore, the teeth 55? of the said arms E55 are brought in turn to engage the pins it! of said discs Hi3 and, consequently, turn the spindle it first one Way and then the other. The movement of the spindle it, it will be appreciated, causes the spindle nut it (Figure 23) to reciprocate longitudinally of the machine, carrying therewith the carrier rod locking device M which, in this particular instance, may be rigidly fixed to said spindle nut.

It is to be noted that at the point of connection between the levers M9 and arms 955, there is preferably provided an inclined slot 52 which affords a more positive and steady engagement of the teeth i517 with the pins ilal due to the wedge-like action at said point of connection.

Also, it will be noted that the variation in the length of movement of the spindle nut 35 together with the locking device it which, as hereinbefore stated, may travel over a variable distance of two or more needles, is had by the adjustment of roller i138, levers M9, and arms E55 in the manner previously described.

A further modification of the mechanism adapted to displace the locking device it is illustrated in Figures 28 and?!) of the drawings. According to this embodiment, said locking device Jd is mounted upon a spindle nut F5 in a manner similar to that described in connection with Figure 3, that is, the locking device it is mounted to slide upon the spindle nut-l5.

Secured to one side of the casing hit is a pair of relatively spaced downwardly directed brack- "of the machine frame it as shown at its, to rock about apin llii extending through the bent portion thereof. The remaining branch of the said bent lever 568 is pivotally attached to a block ill sliding in an elongated frame work l'l2 supported upon the upper end of an upstanding rod l The rod 573 is mounted for vertical reciprocating movement in a bracket lll preferably secured to the underside of the center bed i of the machine frame l. The rod W3 is held against rotary movement by means of a bloclr W5 fixed to the lower end of said rod and extending through a slot lib cut into a plate ill depending from the bracket Rigid with the rod W3 and disposed thereon above the guiding bracket H5 is a housing I78 lid 

